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TO THE LEARNERS
Introduction to
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Branches of Philosophy
ENRICO B. CAGANDA
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This module serves as a learning resource material in understanding the target competency
expected in the curriculum.
TOPIC
Branches of Philosophy
CONTENT STANDARD
LEARNING COMPETENCY
PPT11/12-Ia-1.1
The presented activities or exercises and texts are developed in order to meet the
following objectives:
Philosophy
The learner understands the meaning and process of doing
philosophy
The learner reflects on a concrete experience in a philosophical way
1.1. Distinguish a ho
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PRE-TEST
A. Logic
B. Aesthetics
C. Metaphysics
D. Ethics
4. Ethics is the branch of Philosophy that explores the nature of moral virtue and
evaluates human actions. Which of the following statements exemplifies the value of
ethics in Philosophy?
A. Women are not inferior to men and that both must complement each other.
B. All matters are composed of atoms.
C. Ideas are forms of thought representing the real objects.
D. No man is an island
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5. A branch of Philosophy focuses itself with the non-observables. Another branch deals
with what is right or wrong. What does epistemology deal with?
6. Logic is not interested with what we know. Rather, it concerns itself on the truth and
validity of our arguments. Who was the philosopher who devised the first
method of logic?
A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Zeno
D. Aristotle
8. Some philosophers believe that general ideas are formed from the examination of
particular facts. What method is employed in this kind of generating idea?
A. deduction
B. induction
C. epistemological
D. logical
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9. We can see things made of matter but we cannot see the underlying matter itself. What
branch of Philosophy sees things like this?
A. Metaphysics
B. Aesthetics
C. Logic
D. Epistemology
10. How do we tell good from evil or right from wrong? This basic question is a concern of
what branch of Philosophy?
A. Epistemology
B. Logic
C. Ethics
D. Metaphysics
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3. What perspectives or approaches in Philosophy you already know? List them down.
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4. How are these perspectives or approaches in Philosophy important in our day-to-day life?
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LET’S LEARN
In the previous module, the definition of Philosophy and its salient features were discussed. In
Knowing only the meaning of Philosophy and some of its characteristics are not enough if we are
in search for true wisdom. For a narrow and partial mind is wholly incompatible with the real
philosophical attitude that manifests holistic point of view. The discussion below on branches of
Philosophy is intended to broaden one’s perspectives and skills in doing philosophical discourses.
There are 5 branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics, Ethics, Epistemology, Logic and Aesthetics.
Metaphysical philosophy accounts on investigating the unreal entities in terms of the real world that
we experience through our senses. The well-known Philosopher, Plato, enlightened the field of
metaphysics by contrasting reality and appearance. He stated that our experience with the real world
is not real. Reality according to him is how we perceive the world. Therefore, what is real is just
products of our perception through the mind. For example, we see a yellow chair because we
perceive it as yellow chair. But others may perceive a different color when light affecting the
Ethics as another branch of Philosophy deals with the evaluation of human actions and the nature
of moral virtue. As such, ethical philosophy accounts for the nature of our moral judgements and it
also attempts to investigate our fundamental ethical ideas. From these contentions arise the idea of
right versus wrong and evil versus good. Discourses like feminism (equal opportunities among
genders) and law-making become areas where ethical philosophy is employed. Socrates pointed out
that knowledge is not merely theoretical nor speculative but also practical. It means that knowledge
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on rules of right living is not sufficient when it is not actually being practiced. One historical example
that exemplifies ethical philosophy is that issue laid down by William Du Bois. He argued that there
Epistemology as philosophical perspective concerns itself with the nature, sources, limitations
and validity of knowledge. Some of the basic questions raised by Epistemology are: how do we know
what we know, how do we know what we want to know and do we distinguish true from what is not
true. Knowledge, according to this perspective, can be acquired through induction (empiricism) and
empirical evidences) in order to arrive at general idea. Conversely, deductive process employs
generally accepted ideas in order to arrive at specific ideas. Advocates of deductive method are
Another method used under Epistemology is pragmatism. William James and John Dewey are
famous pragmatists. They believe that value in use is the real test of truth and meaning.
Logic is another branch of Philosophy. Unlike any other philosophical perspectives, logic does
not concern itself in what we know regarding certain subjects. Thus, logic does not provide us
knowledge of the world directly. It only serves as tool to guide one’s arguments or discourses so as to
keep them valid and true. Aristotle was the first philosopher who employed logical method. He
claimed that truth exists when there is agreement between knowledge and reality. This can only take
place when mental ideas correspond to the objective world. This is where logical reasoning comes in.
Reasoning is very important in our everyday lives. Decision making can make or unmake us.
Thus the quality of our logical capacity affects our well-being. A person equipped with logic can
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Finally, Aesthetics as philosophical perspective concerns itself with the notion of beauty.
Whenever we created a devise or equipment we consequently aim to improve (or beautify) it after
some time. It only goes to show that aesthetics accounts for the criteria of beauty.
Aesthetics can be used to explain matters regarding culture and arts. It is in these fields where
beauty can best be explained with the use of aesthetical philosophy. Embedded in our culture is our
capacity to distinguish beautiful from what is not. Arts as part of our cultural milieu manifests our
What benefits can students get from aesthetical knowledge? As students, the importance of
aesthetics are: it vitalizes our knowledge making the world more useful and alive, it helps us live
more deeply and richly for appreciation of work of arts arises, and it keeps us in touch with our
culture.
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Below are situational cases where each needs particular philosophical perspective in order to
understand the issues inherent within each of them. Read each case and think of a particular branch
Case 1
The resources that supply our daily needs come from the environment.
The amount of resources that we demand affects environmental condition.
Increasing our demand raises the pressure on environment.
Conversely, the condition of environment influences the quality of
life that we have. An environment in good condition sustains life. While deg-
raded environment brings forth social problems.
What kind of treatment should we accord to the environment that
supplies our needs then?
Case 2
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Case 3
1. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best explain case 1? Write your
arguments on the space provided below.
2. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best explain case 2? Write your
arguments on the space provided below.
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3. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best explain case 1? Write your
arguments on the space provided below.
LET’S LEARN
Holistic perspective enables us to understand better the world that we live in. Thus, having
equipped with the different philosophical perspectives discussed above contributes to one’s well-
being.
Employing a particular perspective, though, requires the element of Natural Light of Reason as
explained in the previous module. Having the knowledge on branches of Philosophy gives us some
edge compared to those who didn’t have the opportunity to learn them no matter how difficult
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Philosophical perspectives can be used to analyze some issues happening in the fields of
Economics, Religion, Mass Media, Government/Politics, Social Relations, Work Place and many
others. It is only up to us which among these philosophical perspective is appropriate to use. Can you
list down current issues happening in our country which can be explained using any of the
philosophical perspective?
1. Metaphysics
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2. Ethics
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3. Epistemology
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4. Logic
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5. Aesthetics
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POST TEST
Read the following items carefully. Write the letter of your answer.
1. We cannot see the underlying matter itself but we can see the things made of that
matter. What branch of Philosophy sees things like this?
A. Metaphysics
B. Aesthetics
C. Logic
D. Epistemology
A. Logic
B. Aesthetics
C. Metaphysics
D. Ethics
4. A branch of Philosophy deals with what is right or wrong. Another branch focuses itself
with the non-observables. What does epistemology deal with?
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D. Epistemology focuses on discovering new knowledge unknown to men.
6. It is not what we know that logic is interested in. Rather, it concerns itself on the truth
and validity of our arguments. Who was the philosopher who devised the first logical
method?
A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Zeno
D. Aristotle
8. Some philosophers believe that general ideas are formed from the examination of
particular facts. What method is employed in this kind of generating idea?
A. deduction
B. induction
C. epistemological
D. logical
9. How do we understand the difference between good and evil or right from wrong? This
basic question is a concern of what branch of Philosophy?
A. Epistemology
B. Logic
C. Ethics
D. Metaphysics
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10. Ethics investigates the nature of moral virtue and evaluates human actions in order
to arrive at knowledge. Which of the following statements exemplifies the value of
ethics in Philosophy?
A. Women are not inferior to men and that both must complement each other.
B. All matters are composed of atoms.
C. Ideas are forms of thought representing the real objects.
D. No man is an island
LET’S REMEMBER
Below is a comparative presentation of the branches of philosophy especially made for you in
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speculative but also
practical
C. Epistemology > deals with the > Rene Descartes > deductive method: If
nature, sources, all objects contain
limitations and validity > John Locke water, then human
of knowledge > William James beings have water.
> puts forward > John Dewey > inductive: Any object
induction (empiricism) around us is
and deduction as composed of an
methods of acquiring element or
knowledge combination of
elements. Therefore,
elements are the main
composition of
anything.
D. Logic > serves as tool in > Aristotle
making valid
arguments >Zeno of Citium
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